I want to buy a pointing dog next year but I don't know what a breeder will charge. Does anyone know what it costs to get one trained to retrieve waterfowl and flush uplands? I don't want a lab so I'm thinking one of those English Pointers will do. Does anyone know if they're dumb like lab or smart dogs?
Pointing dogs
- Thread starter chise
- Start date
I use to hunt with a gentleman who bought an untrained non-hunting background German Short-Hair Pointer. It was a little rough around the edges, but after 2 seasons it was a really fantastic pheasant dog. I guess the instinct was just in its blood, and only needed a little encouragement. Intelligence was average. Most hunting dogs aren't typically top of the pack in terms of intelligence.
Pudelpointer
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge, Alberta
Well, I'm not a lab guy, but I am not sure I would agree with your "dumb" comment, or the GSP opinion either. Poor husbandry (which there is a lot of with any popular breed) results in poor hunting dogs, regardless of the breed.
For what you are talking about hunting, and the kind of terrain you would encounter, I would say that an English / American pointer could be your worst possible choice. They are definitely NOT water dogs, nor are they good "flushers", and if you let them "flush" instead of "point" they will readily do so, just at a couple of hundred yards from where you are standing with your gun.
Continental european versatile dogs may fit the bill (German shorthair, German wirehair, Visla, Pudelpointer, Weimeraner, Brittany spaniel, Munsterlander, etc.), but these are pointers for the most part and not flushers, though they are usually a whole lot easier to train to fetch from water then the two you mentioned. From your criteria, I would say that the labs that you seem to disdain would be a perfect fit. But if that is not your cup of tea, a spaniel would work well (if bought from a reputable breeder of HUNTING dogs), springer or cocker, water spaniel, etc., but the Brittany is pointer, so you need to make a choice.
Another option could be a Toller or Chesapeake, or any number of other retrievers, i.e. flat coat, curly coat, golden, et al.
ETA - As for cost, I would plan on spending between $500 and $1500 for a PUPPY from a reputable hunting kennel, dependent on breed, and between $1500 and $3500 for a fully trained hunting dog, again, depending on breed and level of training. If you factor in the cost of keeping a dog for a year and all the training involved, getting a partially / fully trained dog is actually a pretty good bargain, especially if you factor in the cost of another dog if you are inexperienced and screw up training the first one.
Lots to consider. I'm certainly not going to try and train a dog myself and I don't want a lab. I'm going to put some money aside and see if any of the breeders in Vancouver have any advice. I'll repost it here in case I'm getting the 'run around'.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Your first post was kinda confusing. Do your want a dog that will point upland birds or a flushing dog that merely locates the birds and puts them up? VERY different kinds of hunting.
The Pointing and versatile breeds can be taught to flush on command, but training a flushing breed or a retriever to point is trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
Pudelpointer gave some good advise.
To answer your original question, if you were to buy a decent pup from a reputable breeder, ( proven hunting bloodlines) you're likely looking at $800 to $1200. Budget the same in vet and basic equipment costs the first year, less later on. Food will cost (very rough calculation) $2 /day. Training costs will vary with the owner and location. I train with barn pigeons at $2 each or domestic pheasants at $15 each. Both have their pros and cons.
I highly recommend that you get a bird dog, but do a lot of research first. For me and many other one-dog hunters who hunt both waterfowl and upland birds the versatile breeds are the best choice.
The Pointing and versatile breeds can be taught to flush on command, but training a flushing breed or a retriever to point is trying to put a square peg in a round hole.
Pudelpointer gave some good advise.
To answer your original question, if you were to buy a decent pup from a reputable breeder, ( proven hunting bloodlines) you're likely looking at $800 to $1200. Budget the same in vet and basic equipment costs the first year, less later on. Food will cost (very rough calculation) $2 /day. Training costs will vary with the owner and location. I train with barn pigeons at $2 each or domestic pheasants at $15 each. Both have their pros and cons.
I highly recommend that you get a bird dog, but do a lot of research first. For me and many other one-dog hunters who hunt both waterfowl and upland birds the versatile breeds are the best choice.
dumb dogs are a result of poor training and breeding, not a specific breed.
I spent $850 US on my German Shorthair Pointer and that was the cheap part. Between E-Collars, books, videos, pigeons, bird launchers, kennels, vaccinations and world of other expenses Ive spent thousands but its worth every penny when your out in the field and have a well trained dog.
I think from what your looking from a dog I would look at a flushing breed and not a pointer.
Cheers!!
I spent $850 US on my German Shorthair Pointer and that was the cheap part. Between E-Collars, books, videos, pigeons, bird launchers, kennels, vaccinations and world of other expenses Ive spent thousands but its worth every penny when your out in the field and have a well trained dog.
I think from what your looking from a dog I would look at a flushing breed and not a pointer.
Cheers!!
I just put a deposit on a puppy that should be ready to come home in January. I went for a Brittany Spaniel. They are one of the versatile mainland Europe hunting dogs. They can point and retrieve. I am using a book called "The Training and Care of the Versatile Hunting Dog" put out by the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association to train the dog myself.
$1000-1500 for the pup. $3000-5000 for training (budget about $1000/month for training if you're sending the dog away. If you've never trained one before then send them away, you'll regret it if you don't.)
I have one of the before mentioned duck tolling retrievers. Pup was $1200, training was just a touch under $3000 for 3 months. That's basically trained to the point where he'll obey commands and always pick up birds. He's good with marks if he sees them, usually can do a double, can't do blinds or handling and has some modest "hunt it up" skills. Good on waterfowl or flushing upland.
And as mentioned, then I spent another probably $1000 on e-collars, training equipment, etc. so that I can continue to work with him and get him better. Know what your wallet is getting into before you buy the pup.
I have one of the before mentioned duck tolling retrievers. Pup was $1200, training was just a touch under $3000 for 3 months. That's basically trained to the point where he'll obey commands and always pick up birds. He's good with marks if he sees them, usually can do a double, can't do blinds or handling and has some modest "hunt it up" skills. Good on waterfowl or flushing upland.
And as mentioned, then I spent another probably $1000 on e-collars, training equipment, etc. so that I can continue to work with him and get him better. Know what your wallet is getting into before you buy the pup.
i'm not an expert on your topic, but i have enough experience with working dogs, and your comment about labs being dumb just hit me... of course you're entitled to your opinion, but to do labs justice, i'd like to bring to your attention that they're one of the best if not "The Best" dogs for guiding blind people, rescueing from natural disasters, and police dogs... and all of that is basically because of their hunting instincts (excellent nose, good fetching/trecking skills, complete awareness of their whereabouts....
don't think a dog with those qualities would be dumb...
just for your info, i don't own a lab, so i'm not being subjective here...
don't think a dog with those qualities would be dumb...
just for your info, i don't own a lab, so i'm not being subjective here...
